Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, March 10, 2019 Forgiveness Sunday - Cheesefare

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1 Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, March 10, 2019 Forgiveness Sunday - Cheesefare SAINTS OF THE WEEK Hieromartyr Pionios of Smyrna, March 11th Pionios was a third-century priest and hagiographer from Smyrna, having written the life of St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna. During the persecutions of Emperor Decius, Pionios was condemned to crucifixion. He accepted this fate with great joy and willingly laid down, ordering the soldiers to drive the nails into his hands. Before many witnesses, the cross was driven into the ground upside down, and a fire was lit under the martyr s head. Pionios closed his eyes and silently prayed. When the flames subsided, everyone saw the saint s body unharmed, and not a hair on his head was burnt. St. Pionios face was radiant. Righteous Ypomoni of Serbia, March 13 Ypomoni was the daughter of Constantine Dragash, one of the Serbian leaders during the fourteenth century. Many of her ancestors were saints, including St. Symeon the Myrrh-gusher and King St. Stefan of Serbia, who founded the Hilander Monastery on Mt. Athos. Ypomoni married Emperor Manual II Palaiologos. They worked together in harmony for thirty-five years. She was meek and sweet and gained many virtues. She was the great mother who anyone could approach and be consoled by her words. Ypomoni had eight children. Two ascended the emperor s throne, and three became monks. She taught them the Orthodox faith, taking them to holy shrines and monasteries. She sought prayers for her children from holy ascetics, and with patience and persistence shaped their characters. She also received rest, strength, and courage from the monasteries. Her son once wrote about her that no one came into contact with her that did not become better. When Manuel died, Ypomoni became a humble nun for the last twenty-five years of her life. A recent miracle is told that she appeared as a nun to a taxi driver in Athens. The taxi driver had skin cancer on his hands and was feeling a great lack of faith. During the ride, Ypomoni asked, Why are you sad? He proceeded to confess everything to her. She asked him if he wanted her to make the sign of the cross so that he would become well, and he agreed. He soon became sleepy and pulled over to rest. When he woke, his hands were better, but Ypomoni had disappeared. He immediately went to see his doctor and told him what had happened. At that moment, he saw an icon of St. Ypomoni hanging on the wall. This miracle occurred on the day when St. Ypomoni is celebrated South Archer Road, Justice, Illinois (708) , fax (708) Web: office@holycrossil.org Rev. Fr. Demetrios Kounavis - Parish Priest

2 ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ EPISTLE READING FOR THE DAY ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ GOSPEL READING FOR THE DAY Ἀδελφοί, νῦν ἐγγύτερον ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία ἢ ὅτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν. Ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, καί ἐνδυσώμεθα τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός. Ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν, μὴ κώμοις καὶ μέθαις, μὴ κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις, μὴ ἔριδι καὶ ζήλῳ. Ἀλλʼ ἐνδύσασθε τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθε, εἰς ἐπιθυμίας. Τὸν δὲ ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει προσλαμβάνεσθε, μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν. Ὃς μὲν πιστεύει φαγεῖν πάντα, ὁ δὲ ἀσθενῶν λάχανα ἐσθίει. Ὁ ἐσθίων τὸν μὴ ἐσθίοντα μὴ ἐξουθενείτω, καὶ ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων τὸν ἐσθίοντα μὴ κρινέτω ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτὸν προσελάβετο. Σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ κρίνων ἀλλότριον οἰκέτην; Τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ στήκει ἢ πίπτει. Σταθήσεται δέ δυνατὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς στῆσαι αὐτόν. Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand. Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Εὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑμῖν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν. Οταν δὲ νηστεύητε, μὴ γίνεσθε ὥσπερ οἱ ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί ἀφανίζουσι γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀπέχουσι τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν. σὺ δὲ νηστεύων ἄλειψαί σου τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου νίψαι,ὅπως μὴ φανῇς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύων, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσει σοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσι καὶ κλέπτουσι θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν. The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

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4 '''Πριν από κάθε πτώση, προηγείται εγωιστική άνεση. Καί πριν από κάτι όμορφο, συντριβή και ταπείνωση." Όσιος Πορφύριος Καυσοκαλυβίτης "Ένα αυγό σπάει και από ύψος 30 πόντων. Όμως ένας βράχος πρέπει να ανέβει πολύ υψηλά. Καί να πέσει για να συντριβεί. Ο άνθρωπος που έχει πολύ σκληρή καρδιά, θα επιτρέψει ο Θεός να πετύχει κάποια πράγματα, να ανέβει ψηλά και κατόπιν να πέσει βαρύγδουπα για να συντριβεί, να μαλακώσει, να σπάσει. Όμως ο μαλακός άνθρωπος, ο ευαίσθητος, ο πονόψυχος, μπορεί να μην έχει μεγάλες κοσμικέςεπιτυχίες, να βρίσκει όλο εμπόδια. Αυτό όμως τον προστατεύει από μεγάλες πτώσεις, τις οποίες η ευαίσθητη καρδιά του δεν θα αντέξει. Να λοιπόν, που τα εμπόδια στη ζωή μας είναι η προστασία μας και όχι η κατάρα μας και η δοκιμασία μας. Έτσι όταν ο Θεός θέλει να μας γλιτώσει από εγωιστικά στραπατσαρίσματα βάζει εμπόδια στα σχέδιά μας. Δηλαδή, το εμπόδιο είναι η προστασία από εγωιστικές πτώσεις. Γι αυτό ο λαός λέει: Κάθε εμπόδιο για καλό και κατ αναλογία κάθε άνεση για κακό! Λέγουν οι Πατέρες ουδείς εισήλθε μετ ανέσεως στον παράδεισο. Ως εκ τούτου πριν από κάθε πτώση, προηγείται εγωιστική άνεση. Καί πριν από κάτι όμορφο, συντριβή και ταπείνωση." ******************************* Στο χτύπημα της θύρας του Παραδείσου βαρειά αντήχησε η ερώτηση: -Ποιος είναι; Ρώτησε από μέσα ο Χριστός. -Εγώ! Απάντησε ο ασκητής. Η πόρτα έμεινε κλειστή. Καμμιά φωνή από πουθενά. Έφυγε πάλι για την έρημο ο ασκητής. Υποβλήθηκε σε νέες πνευματικές ασκήσεις και ξαναγύρισε. Χτύπησε την πόρτα και στο ερώτημα «ποιος είναι» αυτή τη φορά απάντησε «ΕΣΥ!» Άνοιξε διάπλατα η θύρα. Γιατί είχε τώρα πιά ανακαλύψει ποιο ήταν εκείνο που την κρατούσε κλειστή. Ήταν το Εγώ του εγωιστή ανθρώπου που έπρεπε να αντικατασταθεί από το Εσύ του Χριστού.

5 SAVE THE DATE March 21: Monthly H.O.P.E. Group March 26: Philoptochos Feed the Hungry at Annunciation Cathedral March 30: Vespers of the Holy Cross March 31: Sunday of the Holy Cross with Greek School Program and Luncheon April 19-20: Philoptochos Easter Bake Sale April 20: Saturday of Lazarus Children s Retreat and the making of the palms April 21: Palm Sunday Luncheon May 3: Bright Friday Feast May 5: 2:00pm - Greek Parade on Halsted Street May 11: Parish Trip to the St. Iakovos Retreat Center, WI May 12: Mother s Day Breakfast JUNE 21-23: 2019 GREEK FESTIVAL HOLY CROSS PHILOPTOCHOS Philoptochos Baking Items Needed Our Philoptochos needs the following baking items: All Purpose Flour, Sugar, Honey, Powdered Sugar, Walnuts, Corn Oil, and Unsalted Butter. Your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you! STEWARSHIP 2019 Stewardship cards can picked up in the church office. We ask that you prayerfully consider what you will offer to our beloved parish of Holy Cross in Our beloved parish requires approximately $915 per day to operate or an annual pledge average of $1670 per family. As always, we remain appreciative for all that you lovingly give.

6 Forgiveness Sunday The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Fortyday Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation. Fasting and Prayer as a Longing for God "Longing for God is expressed with fasting, with an empty stomach... Fasting has a unique meaning by expressing the longing for God... The same occurs for prayer. If prayer to myself had meaning, then my prayer life would be a human endeavor, a tendency and revival, it wouldn't be God. My prayer has meaning because it exactly expresses my longing: 'Come and abide in us...', the: 'Where are you, my God?' "With fasting, vigil, and prayer, chaos and malaise are shown to be our rags before God, as the poor man shows his rags to his fellow man in order for him to have pity on him to help him, or like the blind man cried out to Christ to give him light. Thus, we show our poverty and he asks that He open our eyes in order to understand that we are sinners, that we might repent and so He can forgive us... "The approach therefore is an uncreated energy, a true projection of His being. Because of this, my life as well is a true communion with the true God. While God acts, I commune with Him. While God is unapproachable, I partake of Him... "Only the: 'Where are you, my God?', can make visible the invisible presence of God...We give Him our consent, our being, and He directs everything, He kneads us..." -Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra *************************** Virtue as our Goal Human affairs are fainter that a shadow; more deceitful than a dream. Youth fades more quickly than the flowers of spring; our beauty wastes with age or sickness. Riches are uncertain; glory is fickle. The pursuit of arts and sciences is bounded by the present life; the charm of eloquence, which all covet, reaches but the ear; whereas the practice of virtue is a precious possession for its owner, a delightful spectacle for all who witness it. Make this your study; so will you be worthy of the good things promised by the Lord. -St. Basil the Great

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8 WEEKLY EVENTS Today Church School Makaronada luncheon after Church Monday, March 11 5:30pm - Great Compline 7:00pm - Koulouma Tuesday, March 12 6:00pm - Great Compline 7:00pm - Parish Council Meeting Wednesday, March 13 5:30pm - Presanctified Liturgy 7:00pm - Orthodoxi Zoe with Lenten Meal Thursday, March 14 6:00pm - Great Compline Friday, March 15 6:30pm - 1st Salutations to the Theotokos Saturday, March 16 8:30am - Orthros and Divine Liturgy 10:00am - Greek School Sunday, March 17 Sunday of Orthodoxy/Procession of Icons Philoptochos Loukoumades Sale Today s coffee fellowship is hosted in memory of Emmanuel Simeakis. Everyone is invited to our community hall to enjoy fellowship. May his memory be eternal! ΗΜΕΡΟΛΟΓΙΟ Σήμερα Κατηχητικό Σχολείο Γεύμα Κυρ. της Τυρινής μετά την Θ. Λειτ. Δευτέρα, 11 Μαρτίου 5.30μ.μ. - Μέγα Απόδειπνον 7.00μ.μ. - Κούλουμα Τρίτη, 12 Μαρτίου 6.00μ.μ. - Μέγα Απόδειπνον 7.00μ.μ. - Συνεδρίαση Δ. Συμβουλίου Τετάρτη, 13 Μαρτίου 5.30μ.μ. - Προηγιασμένη Θ. Λειτουργία 7.00μ.μ. - Ορθόδοξη Ζωή/μικρό δείπνο Πέμπτη, 14 Μαρτίου 6.00μ.μ. - Μέγα Απόδειπνον Παρασκευή, 15 Μαρτίου 6.30μ.μ. - Α Χαιρετισμοί Σάββατο, 16 Μαρτίου 8.30π.μ. - Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτουργία 10.00π.μ. - Ελληνικό Σχολείο Κυριακή, 17 Μαρτίου Κυριακή της Ορθοδοξίας Λουκουμάδες MEMORIALS Emmanuel Simeakis 1 year, Right 1 3 May his memory be eternal!